Auxiliary waste receiver for waste disposal apparatus



Sept- 4, 5 0. w. GUSTAVESON 2,761,626

AUXILIARY WASTE RECEIVER FOR WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor:

ll ,3 David W Gustaveson,

His Attorney.

Sept. 4, 1956 D.'W. GUSTAVESON 2,

AUXILIARY WASTE RECEIVER FOR WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2. 1953 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Fig.4. 2

I M 4: 55 54 4 Inventor; David W GUStaVGSO 'M l b W His Att orneg United States Patent.

AUXILIARY WASTE RECEIVER FOR WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS David W. Gustaveson, Bridgeport, Conn,

assignor to General Electric Company,

The present invention relates to apparatus for the disposal of Waste material and more particularly to apparatus for receiving a mixture of garbage and water and reducing or comminuting the solid particles to pro duce a fiowable mixture suitable for discharge to a sewer system.

Waste disposal appliances of the type referred to are commonly connected to the drain opening of a kitchen sink or the like structure so as to provide a convenient opening for depositing garbage and other waste material in the appliance, and supplying the necessary water thereto. Such installations usually include a removable closure device for the drain opening and in many cases this device cooperates with a control element in the appliance to control its operation, the usual arrangement being that the closure device may be rotated to an appliance operating position in which it is locked in place (to prevent the hands of the operator from inadvertently contacting the comminution mechanism) but permits passage of water therethrough, a sealing position for use when the sinkis to be filled withwater, and a third position which permits normal drainage from the sink without operation of the appliance. While such installations generally perform their intended functions in a wholly satisfactory manner, they have certain disadvantages which may be overcome by the present invention. First, the sink must be drained before garbage or other material may be fed into the appliance, and second, continuous feeding of garbage while the appliance is operating is not possible.

A related difficulty which has been encountered in connection with the installation of waste disposal appliances results from the fact that such appliances are frequently installed in existing buildings, in many of which the sink drain line projects from a wall at a level too high to provide proper drainage. Specifically the drain line must be connected to the appliance near the bottom of its housing, and be so located that drainage by gravity is insured. To minimize this difficulty, it has been pro-- posed to decrease the height of the appliance, which has the disadvantage of decreasing the size of the comminution chamber and thus the capacity of the appliance.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary device which may be removably supported in a sink drain opening to increase the volumetric capacity of a waste disposal appliance connected thereto and to control the "operation-of the appliance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary device adapted to be removably supported in a sink drain opening. andarranged to selectively control a waste disposal appliance connected thereto, and also to seal said opening against drainage of water therefromand the features ofnovelty which characterize my inventionwill be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of my invention, I provide an auxiliary waste receiver arranged to be removably seated in a sink drain opening and to cooperate with a waste disposal appliance connected thereto so as. to form an upward extension of the chamber in which the waste material is comminuted. When mounted in the opening, the device is movable to a number of positions including one in which garbage and other refuse may be fed into the appliance while the sink is partially filled with water, and another in which apertures in the body of the device are exposed to permit the necessary water to flow into the appliance and a control element is automatically operated.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be made to the accompanying drawing in which+ Fig. 1. is a side elevation view, partly in section, of awa-ste disposal appliance embodying my invention.

Fig; 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the auxiliary waste receiver of my invention and the sink drain open-- ingfiange with whichitcooperates.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33'- in Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is similar toFig. 3 but shows theparts in a different position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line: 66 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation view,.partly in section, of amodified form of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8--8 in Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly Fig. 1 thereof, I have illustrated my invention as applied toa waste disposal unit 1-, the details of which are disclosed in Patent No. 2,642,233 issued June 16, 1953 to- James'H. Powers. For the purpose of describing the present invention, it is sufficientto say that electric motor driven cutting and crushing elements (not shown) are housed in waste disposal unit 1 at the bottom of com--- minutionchamber 2, and that drain pipe 3 is provided to carry the comminuted material and water from chamber 2 to asewer systemor the like. The waste disposal unit 1 further includes a control actuating element or lever. 4 which operates amotor control switch (not shown) so as to control the energization' of the unit. Referring to Fig. 3, the on position of lever 4- is shown in fulllines while the otf position is shown in dotted lines.

It customary for the waste disposal unit 1 to be suitably secured to the drain opening in a sink 5 or other structure towhich water is supplied. The unit is suitably secured to the drain openingas by a drain opening flange 6 cooperating with a clamping ring 7, support ring 8,

and retaining ringsegments 9. A series of clamping bolts- 10 threaded through the support ring 8 and bearing.

against the underside of the clamping ring 7 exert pressure in the proper direction to clamp the sink flange to the sink opening and the unit 1' is suitably supported as:

In one form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusivepl provide an auxiliary waste receiver 15 arranged to be removably'supporte'd' in drain openingflange 6 in: place of a drain. closure of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,185,037 granted December 26, 1939, to James H. Powers. A pair of oppositely disposed horizontal ledges 16 integral with the lower edge of flange 6 cooperate with a pair of oppositely disposed semicircumferential grooves 1'7 adjacent the lower end of receiver 15 to support it in the position shown in Fig. l. The two halves of receiver 15 lying on either side of line 33 are identical (although not symmetrical), while the corresponding halves of flange 6 are both symmertrical and identical.

Auxiliary waste receiver 15 comprises a generally tubular member 18 having a frustoconical upper portion terminating in a scalloped flange 19 which serves as a convenient gripping surface. A plurality of rectangular apertures 20 are provided in the side wall of tubular member 18, being located so as to be adjacent the bottom wall of sink when the receiver is supported in the position shown in Fig. 1. Thus apertures 20 provide a drain path between sink 5 and comminution chamber 2 and drainage of water from sink 5 is permitted when receiver is supported as shown in Fig. l. Encircling tubular member 18 is a groove adjacent the upper edges of apertures is an annular sealing member or washer 21. Sealing member 21 is fixedly secured to tubular member 18 and is adapted to engage flange 6 when receiver 15 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Receiver 15 includes a pair of oppositely disposed earns 22 formed integrally with the lower end of tubular member 18 and arranged to operate lever 4 so as to control the operation of waste disposal unit 1. Only one such cam is required to operate lever 4, but in order to make the operation of receiver 15 as simple as possible and permit it to seat in either of two positions 180 apart, the two halves of receiver 15 lying on either side of line 33 in Fig. l are identical, as pointed out above.

Auxiliary waste receiver 15 may be supported in at least three positions with respect to flange 6 by supporting and locking means including grooves 17 formed in the lower portion of tubular member 18. As best shown in Fig. 2 the surface of the portion of tubular member 18 below guide flange 23 is cylindrical except for a first pair of oppositely disposed flat surfaces 24 immediately below grooves 17, and a second pair of oppositely disposed flat surfaces 25 immediately below guide flange 23. It will be understood that as used in this specification the term oppositely disposed means that the parts referred to in this manner are spaced 180 apart with respect to the axis of tubular member 18. Flat surfaces 25 are displaced from flat surfaces 24 but both pairs of flat surfaces lie in planes equally distant from the axis of tubular member 18. Thus the configuration of the lowermost end of receiver 15 is such that it can be inserted through the opening in the lower edge of flange 6 when surfaces 24 are properly aligned with ledges 16. In order to insure that receiver 15 is inserted in drain opening 6 only when flat surfaces 24 are aligned with the flat edges of horizontal ledges 16, stop members 26 are provided at the lower edges of flat surfaces 25. However, stop members 26 lie immediately below grooves 17 and after receiver 15 has been inserted in flange 6 it may be rotated clockwise 30 at which position flat surfaces 25 are aligned with ledges 16 and receiver 15 will drop down to the position shown in Fig. 4.

The arrangement of grooves 17 also permits the rotation of receiver 15 in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) 90 from the initial position thus placing receiver 15 in the position shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5. It will be noted that diametrically opposite end portions of grooves 17 include fiat portions 17a which engage horizontal ledges 16 to prevent further rotation in a counterclockwise direction. In this position receiver 15 is both supported so as to expose apertures 20 and also locked by engagement of slots 17 and horizontal ledges 16 so as to prevent removal of receiver 15 until it is rotated clockwise to its initial position.

Counterclockwise rotation of receiver 15 to the position shown in Fig. 1 also causes cam 22 to engage lever 4 and actuate it to the on position. However, lever 4 is not operated by cam 22 when receiver 15 is rotated 30 clockwise from the initial position and thus the comminution mechanism unit 1 is not energized when the receiver drops down to the position shown in Fig. 4.

Briefly reviewing the operation of the preferred form of my invention, auxiliary waste receiver 15 is inserted in flange 6 with flat surfaces 24 aligned with horizontal ledges 16 so as to permit ledges 16 to engage grooves 17. Receiver 15 may then be rotated counterclockwise 90 to the position shown in Fig. 1 in which waste disposal unit 1 is energized or the receiver may be rotated clockwise 30 so as to align flat surfaces 25 with ledges 16 whereupon the receiver drops to the position shown in Fig. 4- in which sealing member 21 engages flange 6. With receiver 15 in the position shown in Fig. 1 the water required for proper operation of unit 1 may flow through apertures 20 from sink 5 (being supplied thereto by the usual faucet for example). In this position waste material may be continuously deposited in receiver 15.

When the receiver is rotated clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 4, lever 4 returns to its off position deenergizing unit 1 and flow of water through apertures 20 is prevented by sealing engagement between sealing member 21 and flange 6. Thus sink 5 may be filled with water to any level below scalloped flange 19; at the same time receiver 15 provides an upward extension of comminution chamber 2 and an opening thereto. This arrangement is particularly useful when the user wishes to clean and peel vegetables or the like and deposit the peelings directly into waste disposal unit 1. Aside from this advantage it is apparent that the size of comminution chamber 2 and thus the capacity of the waste disposal unit may be effectively increased by mounting receiver 15 in this position. Upon the completion of waste disposal operations, receiver 15 may be replaced by a conventional closure device by rotating the receiver so as to realign flat surfaces 24 with ledges 16 and then withdrawing the receiver from flange 6.

Another embodiment of my invention including a modified auxiliary waste receiver 27 is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the arrangement of the sink, drain opening flange and waste disposal unit are similar to that previously described, the same numerals being used to identify like parts.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, auxiliary waste receiver 27 is removably supported in drain opening flange 6 and arranged to engage and operate control lever 4 as well as regulate the flow of water from sink 5 into the comminution chamber 2. Receiver 27 comprises a generally tubular member 28 having rectangular apertures 29 therein and a scalloped flange 30 which provides a convenient gripping surface. Receiver 15 is supported in flange 6 by supporting and locking means including oppositely disposed semicircumferential grooves 31 formed in the lower portion of tubular member 28. Below tapered section 32 the outer surface of the lower portion of tubular member 28 is cylindrical with the exception of the aforementioned grooves 31 and a pair of oppositely disposed flat surfaces 33. The surface configuration of the lowermost end of receiver 27 thus corresponds to the shape of the opening defined by the inturned lower edge of flange 6. By inserting receiver 15 into flange 6 with flat surfaces 33 aligned with horizontal ledges 16 the receiver may be rotated counterclockwise 90 to the locking position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. As in the embodiment described above, a pair of oppositely disposed cam elements 34 extend downwardly from the lower end of tubular member 28, each being arranged so as to engage lever 4 and move it to the on position when receiver 15 is rotated to the position shown in the drawmg.

To seal apertures 29 and prevent drainage of water from sink 5 into comminution chamber 2, receiver 15 is provided with an annular sealing washer 35 carried by a tubular collar 36 having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of tubular member 28. Collar 36 is mounted for axial movement on tubular member 28 and may be supported in either the raised position shown in solid lines in Fig. 7 or a lower position in which washer 35 sealingly engages flange 6 as shown in broken lines. While collar 36 may slide freely on tubular member 28, the fit is sufficiently close to substantially prevent passage of water therebetween when the sink is filled to a level above the upper end of the collar. To support collar 36 in the elevated position, a spring loaded spherical detent 37 projecting from the inner surface thereof cooperates with an annular groove 38 in the outer surface of tubular member 28.

From the above description it is apparent that the operation of the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is substantially similar to the operation of the embodiment previously described except that collar 36 and the attached annular washer 35 must be independently lowered to a sealing position in which drainage from sink 5 to comminution chamber 2 is prevented. Thus, if it is desired to insert waste material into unit 1, auxiliary waste receiver 27 is inserted in flange 6 with flat surfaces 33 aligned with ledges 16 and then rotated clockwise 30 to a locked position in which ledges 16 engage portions of the walls of grooves 31. The device may then be filled with waste material substantially to the top of tubular member 28 and if required, sink 5 may be partially filled with water during this operation by lowering collar 36 so as to seal apertures 29. To initiate comminution of the waste material receiver 27 is rotated counterclockwise 30 to its initial position and an additional 90 in the same direction to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 where cam 34 actuates control lever 4 to its on position. Since a constant flow of water into comminution chamber 2 is required for proper operation of waste disposal unit 1, collar 36 must also be raised to its elevated position and water supplied to sink 5. It will be observed that waste material may be continuously deposited in the open end of receiver 27 while the coniminuting mechanism is operating and that the height of the receiver practically eliminates the danger of inadvertently reaching far enough into the comminution chamber to come in contact with the comminution mechanism.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combined auxiliary waste receiver and control actuating device for use with a power operated waste disposal appliance which is adapted to be connected With the drain opening flange of a sink or the like for receiving water therefrom and which appliance has power control means including a control actuating element located adjacent said drain opening; said device comprising a generally tubular member adapted to be removably supported in said drain opening so as to extend upwardly from the bottom wall of said sink, said tubular member having generally circular unobstructed openings at the top and bottom thereof and an aperture in the side wall thereof located so as to be adjacent said bottom wall and permit drainage of water from said sink into said appliance, annular sealing means mounted for axial movement on said tubular member and movable into sealing engagement with said flange whereby said drainage through said aperture is prevented, cam means carried by said tubular member engageable with said control actuating element for operating said element, and locking means on said tubular member engageable with a portion of said flange, said tubular member being rotatable to a plurality of positions with respect to said flange including at least one position in which it is locked thereto and said control actuating element is operated by said cam means.

2. An auxiliary waste receiver for use with a waste disposal appliance which is adapted to be connected with the drain opening flange of a sink or the like for receiving water therefrom comprising a generally tubular member adapted to be removably supported in said drain opening so as to extend upwardly from the bottom wall of said sink, said tubular member having generally circular unobstructed openings at the top and bottom thereof and an aperture in the side wall thereof located so as to be adjacent said bottom wall and permit drainage of water from said sink into said appliance, annular sealing means mounted for axial movement on said tubular member and movable into sealing engagement with said flange whereby said drainage through said aperture is prevented, and locking means on said tubular member engageable with a portion of said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 438,465 Blessing Oct. 14, 1890 1,163,582 Badger Dec. 7, 1915 2,065,347 Schulze Dec. 22, 1936 2,484,459 Osborn Oct. 11, 1949 2,544,745 Ashbaugh et al. Mar. 13, 1951 2,588,182 Van Ranst Mar. 4, 1952 2,657,397 Drew Nov. 3, 1953 

